Feb. 18, 2007
ATLANTA – Wally Crancer had three hits, including a home run, and Michael Hutts allowed just two hits in four innings of relief to lead No. 14 Georgia Tech (3-3) to a 6-3 victory over Illinois-Chicago Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Hutts (1-1) earned the first win of his career after entering in the fourth inning. Matt Wieters picked up his first save of the season by tossing the final 1.1 innings.
Crancer, playing in his first game of the series, went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI in the game. Chris House also collected three hits, while preseason All-Americans Danny Payne and Wieters added two hits apiece.
The Flames took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Chad Schroeder was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, moved to second when Tyler Moore was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a double steal, and scored on a fielder’s choice by Larry Gempp, Jr. Tech starter Chris Hicks then escaped the bases-loaded jam when Ben Trotter hit into a double play to end the inning.
Tech responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 1-1 after Danny Payne led off with a triple and scored on an RBI single by Matt Wieters.
The Jackets added a run in the third inning after Wally Crancer hit a two-out single through the left side, advanced to second on a single by Chris House, and scored on an error by UIC third baseman Nick Rainwater.
Jason Haniger and Payne hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the fourth inning and the Yellow Jackets scored four runs in the frame to push the score to 6-1. Payne’s double plated Haniger, and the junior center fielder scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Wieters. Luke Murton then hit a two-out double to center field before a two-run home run by Crancer, his second of the season, capped Tech’s scoring in the frame.
Hutts retired seven straight from the fourth through the sixth innings until Illinois-Chicago added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Gempp, Jr. and a double-steal that plated Moore to pull the Flames to within three runs at 6-3.
Hicks allowed just one run on one hit in 3.2 innings of work, but did not factor into the decision. Joe Skinner (1-1) took the loss for Illinois-Chicago, giving up six runs on 11 hits in 3.2 innings.
The Jackets will return to action Wednesday when they host cross-town rival Georgia State at 4 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium. Live stats for the game will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
